Bauchi Assembly passes bill to establish free sanitary pads in Bauchi schools.
By Rabiu Ishaq Muhammad
Bauchi State House of Assembly has passed into law, a bill to provide free sanitary pads in primary, secondary and community schools across in the State to help address problems associated with menstrual hygiene challenges among school girls in Bauchi.
Speaking to newsmen on the amended law, the Chairman State assembly committee on Health and human services Hon. Lawal Dauda said the unit will also promote gender equity, improve school attendance and enhance the health and dignity of girls in the state.
According to him, the amended bill would provide a framework for the establishment and management of pad banks, aligning with global best practices and sustainable Development Goals.
Lawal Dauda said the bill was amended to align with the state government efforts of empowering girls to stay in schools to achieve educational goal.
He opined that the creation of the new menstrual hygiene unit will disintegrate the reproductive health activities and will not be in comformity with the primary health Care under one roof policy for implementation of holistic PHC integration services endorsed by the Nigerian Governor’s Forum.
The lawmaker pointed out that, poor menstrual hygiene is causing many of the female students to drop out of school every day which seriously hampering the realization of Sustainable Development Goals on quality education.
Speaking on the sideline of amended bill, the speaker of the state assembly Abubakar Suleiman assured the assembly’s readiness in championing the plight of girls and women in the state.
He congratulated the development partners especially Women for Women International, ASHH Foundation, Child is Gold Foundation for their commitment and contributions towards the passage of the bill into law.
In her remarks at the speaker’s office after the passage of the bill, Executive Director of ASHH Foundation, Mrs Comfort Attah said Bauchi State is the first to such bill in to the country and commended members of the Bauchi State House of assembly for to the legislative intervention.
